SickOfTheColdWeather

Hello experienced travellers and expats,

I'm seeking your advice. I'm thinking of renting an apartment in the Canary Islands (I don't know which island and city yet) long term and I'd like to ask you which documents (apart from the usual ID ones) are required for this. Such as proof of income, bank statements, recommendations from your bank or previous landlords etc. I'm an EU national (Czech Republic) but have never lived in Spain or its territories.

If a proof of income or bank statement is needed, what percentage of your income can your rent be? For instance, if your monthly income is let's say €1000, can you rent an €800 apartment? A €500 one? Or just a €300 one?

Thank you very much for your answers.

Rosemary

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

tommy.irene

You go to any agent or landlord and show your Passport and pay 1 months money and 1 months deposit. Thats all there is to it.

snikpoh

Some landlords may ask for your NIE number or even residencia. Others MAY ask for bank references but this is unlikely.


How long are you looking to stay?

Are you au fait with the residencia requirements which are far more onerous than rental requirements?

tommy.irene

We have people from Norway,Iceland,Germany ext,ext, and they come here every year for the winter months, November to May and they dont know what a NIE or residencia is... A 1 bedroom apartment is €500 with water and electric.

HBG

That's quite cheap if water and electric is included, both together would amount to around a hundred a month. I would also reiterate that a passport is all you need for a rental contract, if you start messing around with NIE numbers and residencia in these troubled times you are only asking for trouble.

snikpoh

Whilst I agree with the need to be pragmatic, I have to point out the legal position which is that after 90 days, you are required to become legal and get a residencia (and therefore NIE) - these are the rules in Spain.


Whilst a passport is all you may need, there are some landlords that will insist on you being legal in their country and will therefore ask for a passport.

Rental agreements are now either 6 or 12 months for long-term lets otherwise they are holiday lets and the prices will, surely, be a lot higher.

SickOfTheColdWeather

Thank you all for your answers and the welcome.

That is good news that renting is not complicated.

I'd probably stay for at least a few years.

To be honest I have not yet, I've just started looking at the Canaries (after a huge research on other Southern European destinations) and renting is in some cases the most difficult thing to do (for a EU resident anyway) so that is why that was my first question. But I will absolutelly look into it. I presume that I can look into Spain's residencia requirements (i.e. this)? Or do the Canaries have specific ones?

Edit: Just had a quick look over it. Doesn't seem so bad. What am I overlooking?

snikpoh

Great - lots of info on this site too.

The biggy is that you have proof of sufficient income and/or savings in a SPANISH bank. Other people have stated that you need to show an income of about 650 euros/month (more if there is more than just you) and, in some cases, a savings account of about 6000 euros.

You also have to have health care in place - you won't get any in Spain without paying for it.

SickOfTheColdWeather

Awesome, thanks for the info.

Those shouldn't be a problem (unless a local bank would complicate opening an account with them but from a Google search it should be fine).

Do the agents or landlords generally require 3 pay slips from the last 3 months or just 1 slip from the last 3 months?

And would they need the pay slips to be translated to Spanish if they are in Czech? (and possibly even officiated by a notary public?)

Also, do you think it'll be a problem if the income amount is in CZK and not EUR?

Thank you very much for your help.

snikpoh

As stated previously by other posters, you should not have to show any pay slips at all.

SickOfTheColdWeather

Oh, so proving an income of at least 650 EUR/month for the residencia registry is done through bank statements instead of pay slips?

Edit: Just re-read your previous post. Did you mean that the income must go to a Spanish bank as well? And that I'd need a Spanish bank statement for proving my income then?

tommy.irene

You just need proof that you have savings or income coming into a spainish bank ..Just come over for a holiday and if you like it stay..you have90 days to regester for living in Spain

SickOfTheColdWeather

Thank you guys, sorry for the late reply, I'm way too busy recently.

Will visit Tenerife soon.